Warp knitting machine



June 3, 1969 A. ZWINGENBERGER ET AL WARP KNITTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 17. 1967 United States Patent O 3,447,344 WARP KNI'ITING MACHINE Arno Zwingenberger and Adolf Hagel, Naila, Bavaria, Germany, assignors to Karl Liebrandt, Naila, Bavaria, Germany l Filed Aug. 17, 1967, Ser. No. 661,248 Claims priority, application Germany, Aug. 30, 1966, L 54,422 Int. Cl.

D04b 15/ 70 U.S. Cl. 66-86 4 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE ends of the control levers. With this unitary common,

iiXed axis shaft type of improved construction, the chain links movable on chain drums with variable elevation Vof cam chain links, and cams also carried on the control discs, there results a simplified and more dependable construction and operation of the machine.

This invention relates to improvements in knitting machines and the components thereof.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved knitting machine and components thereof, in which the expensive and complicated lever system, heretofore required, is simplified by reduction of parts and more positive operation of linkages to thus improve and make more eicient the operation of the machine.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel and improved knitting machine and components thereof, in which the alternating movement of the guide bars for stitch formation is brought about by a unified integrated employment of cammed chain links and cammed control discs which are rotatable about a common fixed axis, while a plurality of alternating actuating levers which operate the reciprocating guide bars are additionally pivotally carried on an auxiliary shaft supported by one of the free ends of the respective control levers.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel improved warp knitting machine and components thereof, particularly a raschel knitting machine, including pattern gears which elfect the alternating movement of the guide bars for stitch formation through chain links and control discs; and in which the pattern chain and the control discs are positioned on a common axis of rotation or shaft, thus simplifying the construction and making it more positive.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved warp knitting machine, more particularly a raschel knitting machine, in which the control-disc operated control levers for lapping are rotatably positioned about a stationary axis, While the alternating levers which ice operate the guide bars are pivoted on a shaft which is carried by one of the free ends of the control levers, and in which the control discs for the overlapping are arranged on both sides of the pattern warp drum and coaxial therewith on its shaft, while the control levers are mounted on stationary axis of rotation below the shaft of the pattern warp drum.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved warp knitting machine of the type described, in which the control levers are formed as double levers which carry a scanning roller at their upper ends, while their lower ends are connceted through a shaft serving for the emplacement or pivotal support of the alternating levers.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved construction of a warp knitting machine of the type described, and components thereof, which is formed of few parts with less complicated construction,

` and which is readily employed in newly manufactured knitting machines, or adapted for building into existing machines without expensive or radical reconstruction thereof, While giving improved and dependable operation.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a sectional elevational view of a portion of the knitting machine, showing details of the improved invention elements and the connection to the remainder of the knitting machine in schematic fragmentary illustration;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational View as seen from the left side of FIGURE 1, and omitting for clarity the connecting elements shown in the upper left corner of FIGUR-E 1.

In connection with the yconstruction and operation of warp knitting machines, more particularly those known as raschel knitting machines, pattern gears have become known which effect the alternating movement of the guide bars for stitch formation through means of chain links and control discs. For further details of this, reference may be had to the magazine periodical publication Wirkereiund-Strickerei-Technik for October, 1964, pages 487 and 488, which is incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof. The construction of such machines is such that the height of a chain link determines the length of the lapping under the needles, while the pattern or lapping above the needles is effected by means of control discs. Both operate the alternating levers of the guide bars. While this method may save on chain links, the coupling of the alternating levers with the control discs still requires an expensive or complicated lever system including two mobile and two stationary shafts. Furthermore, the pattern chain and the control discs are positioned on two different shafts.

The present invention avoids and eliminates the sh0rtcomings and disadvantages of the prior art in the fo1- lowing ways. According to the invention, Only the control-disc operated control levers for the lapping are rotatably positioned around -a stationary axis, while the alternating levers which operate the guide bars are pivoted at a shaft which is carried and supported by one of the free ends of the control levers. Furthermore, the control discs for the overlapping are arranged on both sides of the pattern warp drum, and on the shaft of the pattern warp drum. Below said shaft a stationary axis of rotation is provided for the control levers. Both control levers are formed as double levers which carry a scanning roller at their upper end, while their lower ends are connected through a shaft serving for the positioning or support of the alternating levers.

In order to understand clearly the nature of the invention, and the best means for carrying it out, reference may be had to the drawings in which like numerals denote similar parts throughout the several views.

As shown in the drawings, the guide bars 1 of the knitting machine are caused to undergo alternating or reciprocating movement through the reciprocating connecting bar 2, the left end 4 of which as seen in FIGURE 1, engages the right portion 6 of the guide bar 1, while the right end 8 of the connecting bar 2 bears against the rounded knob ball portion 10 on the upper end 12 of the alternating levers 14. The double ended arrow 18 indicates the reciprocal motion of the guide bars 1, the connecting lbars 2, and the upper end 12 of the alternating levers 14, and for convenience and to avoid binding, the ball and socket joint or other mechanical joints or elements may be formed at both ends of the connecting bar or rod 2.

As the end 12 of the alternating levers 14 move to the left as seen in FIGURE 1, pushing the connecting rod 2 to the left, and also the guide bars 1, this acts against the tension of the return springs 20, one end of the springs 20 being engaged with hook 22 on guide bars 1, and the other end secured to the stationary lug 24 carried by a stationary portion of the machine. The spring 20 thus serves to return the guide bars 1 to the right when the end 12 of the alternating levers 14 is undergoing its right- Ward or return swing, and also aiding in maintaining continuous contact of the roller cam followers 26 and 28 respectively with their related cam disc 30 and link chain 32.

To this end, a pattern gear array is provided which comprises the pattern warp chain 32 and the control discs 30, which are both arranged on the shaft 34 coaxially for rotation together. The pattern warp chain 32 travels across the pattern drum' 36 which is also coaxially rotatable with the shaft 34 and has chain links 38 of reduced radial extent and chain links 40 of increased radial extent as seen best in FIGURE 1, so that the chain cam followers or rollers 28 remain in continuous contact with the chain links 38 and 40 as they move therepast, yand as the cam followers 28 are carried by the alternating levers 14 which are pivoted on sraft 44 the levers 14 are caused to undergo oscillation about the movable pivot shaft 44, causing oscillation as per the arrow 18 of its end 12, and hence ofthe guide bars 1, with the aid of the return spring 20 as explained.

From FIGURE l, it is also seen that the height of the links, such as 38 and 40 of the chain 32, determines the length of the lapping pattern under the needles. The control disc 30 also has radially increased cam surfaces, such as at 46, with intermediate reduced cam lands 48 there between on which the cam disc follower rollers 26 ride as the disc rotates. This causes the control levers 5U, which are pivoted on fixed pivot shaft 52, to undergo oscillation about shaft 52 in the directions of double ended arrow 54 -in FIGURE l. This also causes oscillation of pivot shaft 44 to some extent as indicated by the arrow `54. The control levers 50 are rotatably arranged on fixed `shaft 52 in the form of double levers as also seen in FIGURE 2.

As yalso shown in FIGURE 2, both sides of the pattern drum 36 are provided with a control disc 30, respectively, and a control lever 50, respectively. The lower ends of the two control levers 50, as seen best in FIGURE 2, are connected with each other by a shaft 52 upon which the alternating levers 14 are pivoted at their lower ends.

The control levers 50 are given a rotational motion around the axis shaft 52 by the action of the cam surfaces 46 of the control discs 30, as the cam followers or rollers 26 roll over the cams, thereby moving the shaft 44, with the alternating levers 14. This provides the guide bars 1 with a back and forth movement, as an overlapping motion, for the formation of a stitch. The alternating movement of the guide bars 1, in dependence on the pattern warp chain 32, for carrying out the underlapping, is effected when the control lever 50 is idling, that is, when the cam follower roller 26 is riding on the disc rim dwell portions48 between the elevated cam surfaces 446. Reversely, the `alternating movement of the guide bar 1 effected from the cam curve disc 30 which is to effect the overlapping action, is temporarily executed when cam follower roller 28 is in a dwell position riding on the decreased dwell links 32, that is, when no increased pattern chain link such as link 40 acts upon the cam follower roller 28.

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described in specific terms, it is to be understood that this is by way of example, and that various changes may be made in size, shape, materials and arrangement without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A warp knitting machine comprising guide bar means, pattern gear means for effecting alternating movements of said guide bar means for stitch formation, said pattern gear means comprising, a first means including cam chain link means formed of a plurality of cam links of differing cam elevations for actuating said guide bar means for underlapping in said stitch formation, 4and a second means including cammed control disc means for actuating said guide bar means for overlapping in said stitch formation, said cam chain link means and said cammed control disc means being constructed and arranged for rotation about a common fixed axis, alternating actuating lever means operated by said cam chain link means and said cammed control disc means for effecting controlled alternating movement of said guide bar means in stitch formation, said cammed control disc means having a plurality of control discs, a plurality of disc cams carried by and extending out of the surface edges of said control discs, the alternating actuating lever means engaging and being operated by each of said cam links in turn, linkage lever means constructed and arranged for engaging said disc cams in turn and for interlinking said disc cams with said actuating lever means, said linkage lever means comprising a plurality of linkage control levers, each being supported for rotation about a fixed axis intermediate its rst and second ends, cam follower means carried at its first end for follower engagement with said disc cams on said cammed control disc means, second shaft means carried at the said second ends of said linkage control levers for movement therewith, and wherein said alternating actuating lever means are in engagement with and movable by said second shaft means.

2. A warp knitting machine according to claim 1, in which said linkage lever means comprises a plurality of linkage control levers each supported for rotation about a first fixed axis shaft intermediate its first and second ends, cam follower means carried at its first end for follower engagement with said disc cams on said'cammedcontrol disc means, second shaft means carried -at the said second ends of sai-d linkage control levers for movement therewith, and wherein ysaid alternating actuating lever means comprise a plurality of alternating actuating levers supported at their first ends by said second shaft means for movement therewith,'and linked at their second ends with said guide bar means for movement thereof.

3. A warp knitting machine according to claim 1, having a first main shaft, said pattern gear means comprising drum means rotatable about the axis of said first main shaft, and chain link means engaging and movable with said drum means about said first main shaft axis, said pattern gear means having a plurality of cammed control disc means carried at opposite ends of said drum means for rotation with said drum means about the axis of said rst main shaft, and alternating lever means engaging said guide bar means for operating the same and linked to said chain link means and to said cammed control disc means for eiecting movement of said guide bar means therefrom.

4. A warp knitting machine according to claim 2, wherein said cammed control disc means and said cam chain link means move about a common first main axis, and wherein said xed axis of said linkage control levers is arranged below said common first main axis.

References Cited UNTTED STATES PATENTS U.S. Cl. X.R. 

